Laguna Reach Restoration

The Laguna Reach of the Colorado River runs about six miles, between Imperial and Laguna dams just north of Yuma, Arizona. In the early 20th century, explorer and cartographer Godfrey Sykes mapped the Colorado River delta, showing the Laguna Reach as the beginning of the delta.

The massive Colorado River delta—once covering some two million acres—is now little more than a vestige of its former self. In the past several years, however, restoration and rehabilitation efforts have begun in many portions of the remnant and former delta, including work in the Río Hardy and the Yuma wetlands.

The Laguna Reach is now fed almost exclusively by sediment-sluicing flows from Imperial Dam and from the canal works on the river’s right and left banks. An average of more than 400,000 acre-feet flow through the reach each year, predominantly through the channelized wasteway. Overrun by thousands of acres of saltcedar, an invasive plant that crowds out native plants, the reach has very limited native riparian and emergent wetland habitat. Despite this, the reach is replete with abandoned river channels, offering tremendous opportunity for restoration.

The goal of the Laguna Riparian Enhancement Project is to rehabilitate the old river channel, replacing monotypic saltcedar stands with diverse habitats, ranging from open water through emergent wetlands, structurally complex stands of cottonwood and willow, and higher-elevation mesquite bosques. This diverse habitat will attract many of the migratory birds formerly attracted to the area, increase habitat for listed species such as Yuma clapper rails and black rails, and provide additional recreational opportunities. Further, a restored Laguna Reach will complement other downstream restoration projects and provide additional resilience for Colorado River delta species.

With the assistance of Natural Channel Design, Inc., the Pacific Institute released a conceptual plan in December 2007 for the rehabilitation of 730 acres in the Laguna Reach, with the potential for it to be expanded to include more than 1000 acres. The Institute continues to work with key stakeholders, including the Bureau of Reclamation, the Arizona Department of Game and Fish, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Imperial Irrigation District, and others to refine the concept plan and to identify sources to fund the development of a comprehensive project design.

For more information about the Laguna Riparian Enhancement Project, read the concept report or contact Pacific Institute Senior Research Associate Michael Cohen.

Learn more about our Colorado River restoration efforts.